Tigers hold off Twins again
Curtis Granderson homered and drove in three runs, Nate Robertson became Detroit's fourth 10-game winner, and the visiting Tigers held on to beat the Minnesota Twins, 8-6, yesterday.
Brandon Inge and Craig Monroe each had three hits for the Tigers, who have baseball's best road record and have beaten Minnesota, with baseball's best home mark, two straight games.
After winning just 71 games last season, Detroit became the first team in the majors with 70 victories this year. The Tigers are 8 1/2 games ahead of Chicago and 10 1/2 in front of the Twins in the AL Central.
Minnesota, which had the potential winning run at the plate in the ninth after trailing, 6-0, is 1 1/2 games behind New York in the wild-card race.
Robertson (10-6) allowed five runs and nine hits in six-plus innings, striking out four.
Brad Radke (9-8) took the loss for Minnesota, which has lost two straight at home for the first time since May 14-15 against the White Sox.
Athletics 7, Blue Jays 4 -- Barry Zito settled down after giving up a first-inning grand slam and Jay Payton drove in three runs to move host Oakland back into first place in the AL West.
The A's had spent 43 days with at least a share of first place before falling a half-game behind the Los Angeles Angels following a 4-3 loss to Toronto Friday night. Oakland quickly moved back in front by a half-game with its win and the Angels' loss in Boston.
Troy Glaus hit a grand slam off Zito (11-7) in the first but the lefthander settled down after that and allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Royals 5, Rangers 3 -- Jorge De La Rosa struck out seven in his Kansas City debut and John Buck drove in three runs to lead the visiting Royals past Texas, whose losing streak reached a season-worst six games.
All-Star outfielder Carlos Lee went 3 for 4 with a walk in his second game since being traded from Milwaukee to the Rangers (51-53), who dropped three games behind division-leading Oakland in the AL West.
White Sox 13, Orioles 11 -- Tadahito Iguchi homered to cap a seven-run third inning and A.J. Pierzynski went 5 for 5 with a homer and four RBIs for visiting Chicago.
Pierzynski's five hits were a career high. Jermaine Dye also hit his 27th home run for Chicago.
Jon Garland (11-3) allowed six runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings.
Mariners 3, Indians 1 -- Jarrod Washburn (5-10) won for the first time in seven weeks and Ben Broussard homered against his former team, leading Seattle at Cleveland.
Raul Ibanez also homered for the Mariners, who won for the sixth time in nine games. Cleveland lost for the 12th time in 17 games and fell to 17-30 since June 4.
Phillies 12, Marlins 3 -- Ryan Howard hit his NL-leading 34th homer and Chase Utley extended his hitting streak to 29 games for host Philadelphia.
Philadelphia's Cole Hamels (3-5) allowed three runs and five hits, striking out seven in 7 1/3 innings.
Brewers 6, Reds 3 -- Mike Rivera hit a tiebreaking RBI single, Prince Fielder added a solo homer, and host Milwaukee topped Cincinnati.
David Bell, who was acquired from Philadelphia Friday, doubled and scored on Rivera's two-out single in the sixth to give Milwaukee a 4-3 lead. Fielder hit his 19th homer in the seventh for the Brewers.
Pirates 4, Giants 3 -- Rookie lefthander Tom Gorzelanny limited San Francisco to two runs over seven innings and drove in a run himself in his first career victory, leading host Pittsburgh.
Dodgers 7, Nationals 5 -- Russell Martin homered and drove in four runs to help host Los Angeles top Washington.
Mets 11, Braves 3 -- Carlos Beltran homered twice and Orlando Hernandez (7-8) allowed only three hits in eight innings in New York's victory at Atlanta.
Cubs 4, Cardinals 2 -- Greg Maddux (9-11) allowed one run in six-plus innings to earn his 327th career victory, leading host Chicago over St. Louis.
Astros 4, Diamondbacks 1 -- Roy Oswalt (8-7) matched a season high with eight strikeouts and dominated visiting Arizona.
Padres 4, Rockies 2 -- Mike Cameron hit a two-run triple and Chris Young worked five inning to stretch his road unbeaten streak to 19 games, lifting San Diego at Denver.
